Rajouri's anti-encroachment drive

Under its ongoing drive for removal of encroachments over state lands and roads in the district, authorities are all set to launch an anti-encroachment drive in the main town in the next few days. More than 352 persons, who own shops and other establishments, have been served with notices to remove their encroachment or unless the authorities will launch action.

Highly placed sources within the district administration shared some details with Greater Kashmir and said that the administration is preparing itself for another round of anti-encroachment drive. “This time it will be conducted in the old and main town market.”

"More than 350 encroachments have been identified by the authorities and in most of them, traders have constructed their slabs over drains, thereby choking the drain and leading to problems in free flow of sewage water. This triggers different problems during rains, besides engulfing the space meant for pedestrian movement," sources said.

It was learnt by Greater Kashmir that the administration is going to launch a drive in the main town within the next few days, for which notices have been served to the traders, who will be given a fixed time period to remove their encroachments. However, sources denied sharing the exact proposed dates for launching this drive, terming it to be in secrecy mode.

Reportedly, notices have been served by Municipal Committee Rajouri with ADDC AS Chib as its administrator.

A senior administrative officer confirmed the proposed schedule of the drive in the main town and said that notices have been served to the traders and they have been given a chance to remove the illegal encroachments on their own.

It is pertinent to mention here that a huge chunk of state land encroached illegally has already been retrieved at Bela Colony and Kandi town in recent weeks, while a major anti-encroachment drive was also launched in Gujjar Mandi market on Sunday with demolition of 75 structures.

On the other hand, post the drive at Gujjar Mandi market, work to clear the area of debris is going on war footing while work for construction of drains on both sides of roads has also been started.